Download Surfperches

Surfperches
General
ment line, and a standard two-hook surf leader with size
six hooks, is ideal for shore based surfperch shing.
T
he surfperches, family Embiotocidae, are a small abundant assemblage of 23 species found predominantly in
temperate eastern North Pacic waters, two which are
found in the Sea of Japan. Nineteen of the 20 species
found in California occur in inshore coastal waters. Tuleperch (Hysterocarpus traski) occupies freshwater and estuarine habitats. Collectively, the 19 marine species are
found in a variety of habitats, including beaches, rocky
substrate, intertidal and subtidal kelp beds. A few species
inhabit several of the habitat types. Included in this group
are the pile perch (Rhacochilus vacca), rubberlip surfperch
(Rhacochilus toxotes), shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata), walleye surfperch (Hyperprosopon argenteum),
and the white surfperch (Phanerodon furcatus). The majority of surfperches occupy only one type of habitat. Species most commonly found along beaches include the
barred surfperch (Amphistichus argenteus), calico surfperch (Amphistichus koelzi), redtail surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus), silver surfperch (Hyperprosopon ellipticum), and the spotn surfperch (Hyperprosopon anale).
Black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni), dwarf perch (Micrometrus minimus), kelp perch (Brachyistius frenatus), rainbow
perch (Hypsurus caryi), reef perch (Micrometrus aurora),
sharpnose seaperch (Phanerodon atripes), and striped
seaperch (Embiotoca lateralis) tend to be associated with
rocky substrate and kelp beds. The pink seaperch (Zalembius rosaceus) inhabits deep water and is seldom taken in
the sport catch.
The surfperch shery in California includes both sport
and commercial components. The sport shery is enjoyed
by anglers of all ages who sh for surfperch from piers,
jetties, sandy beaches, and boats. The recreational catch
of surfperch for 1999 totaled 489,000 sh, with the majority being caught in central and northern California. The
average sport catch for 1993 through 1999 was 864,000
sh with a high of 1,119,000 sh in 1998.
Surfperch are easy to catch, which makes them highly
sought. They can be caught using light gear and a variety
of baits such as clams, tubeworms, or sand crabs. A spinning or casting outt using 10 to 15 pound test monola-
Barred Surfperch, Amphistichus argenteus
Credit: DFG
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A Status Report
Annual commercial landings of surfperches have also been
highly variable. While the market for fresh “perch” llets
is relatively small, the total catch for the shery was
49,000 pounds in 1999. The California Department of Fish
and Game did not distinguish between species in their
statistics until 1987, simply listing the category as surfperch. Currently, there is a large commercial shery for
various surfperches in the southern part of the state
and a moderate shery focusing on redtail surfperch in
northern California.
Surfperches can be identied by their elliptical, compressed body form and forked tail. Most are marked with
bars or stripes. They have a continuous dorsal n with
nine to 11 spines and 19-28 soft rays. The anal n has
three spines with 15-35 soft rays.
The diet of surfperches consists of isopods (e.g., rock
lice) of all sizes, and gastropod mollusks (e.g., snails); various amphipods (e.g., skeleton shrimp), polychaete worms,
brittle stars, and small crabs, also are included. Surfperches are usually bottom grazers, but apparently will
feed midwater when competitors are absent.
Surfperch reproduction is viviparous, their young being
highly developed and free swimming at birth. Newborn
males of a few species are reproductively mature.
Much information is lacking on this group. Although the
taxonomy has been recently rened, life history and habitat requirements are areas in need of more research.
Barred Surfperch
History of the Fishery
The commercial shery for barred surfperch is minor compared to the sport shery. Its popularity as a sport sh
stems from abundant numbers and accessibility. The average catch for the 1993-1999 period was 176,000 sh in
southern California, and 202,000 sh in the remainder
of the state. In the southern California sport shery for
barred surfperch, 99 percent were caught from beaches
and jetties. Similarly, 99 percent of central and northern
California’s catch also came from shore. The best months
for shing are December, January, and February with the
majority of large individuals being gravid females. Sand
crabs are the best bait for barred surfperch, especially
female sand crabs carrying orange colored eggs. Small jigs
and spinners also work well. Although barred surfperch
are excellent sport sh for the light tackle angler, they are
sometimes considered a pest to anglers pursuing other sh
such as California halibut or corbina.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
December 2001
Status of Biological Knowledge
Barred surfperch have eight to 10 rust-colored, irregular
bars on their sides with spots in between. The background
color is usually silver or white, and the back can take
on a blue or grayish coloration. Similar species are the
calico surfperch and the redtail surfperch, but the barred
surfperch can be distinguished from the redtail and calico
because it lacks red coloration in its ns.
The calico surfperch can be identied by its silvery surface, which is covered by olive-green mottling and broken
bars down each side. The calico reaches a length of 12
inches and rarely weighs more than one pound.
Barred surfperch are found in small schools along sandy
beaches and near jetties, piers, and other sources of food
and cover. They range from Bodega Bay in northern California to north central Baja California. While the majority
are found in the surf zone, some have been caught in
water as deep as 240 feet. The largest individual ever
taken was a female that weighed 4.5 pounds and was 17
inches in length. Most sh are in the one- to two-pound
range and are highly prized by anglers.
Barred surfperch mate during the fall and winter months,
and young are released during spring and summer. Males
and females both darken considerably during courtship,
and males make “gure-eights” around females before
mating. A female can produce from four to 113 young,
depending on her size. Females undergo a ve-month
gestation period, and juveniles are born at about 1.75
inches in length. Juveniles are miniature replicas of the
parents and are independent at birth. The young usually
live relatively close to where they were born.
Status of the Population
During the last seven years, the sport shery in southern
California has yielded up to 306,000 barred surfperch
(1998), while central and northern California together produced upwards of 252,000 sh annually. No estimates have
been made of the size or current status of the barred
surfperch population.
Calico Surfperch
History of the Fishery
The calico surfperch is of moderate sport value along
the California coast. Due to its striking similarity and frequent misidentication with the redtail surfperch, calico
surfperch, until recently, have been considered of minor
importance in the sport catch. The mean sport catch
from 1993-1999 was 16,000 sh. There is no targeted commercial catch but small numbers are taken in the directed
redtail surfperch shery. The calico shery has historically
included shing from piers, sandy beaches, and skiffs.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
December 2001
The range of the calico surfperch is from north central
Washington to northern Baja California. The primary habitat of the calico is sandy beaches, although they can
occasionally be found over rocky substrate. The vertical
distribution of the calico includes depths from the surface
down to 30 feet.
Surfperches
Status of Biological Knowledge
Calico Surfperch, Amphistichus koelzi
Credit: DFG
Status of the Population
At this time, little information is available on the population status of the calico surfperch.
Pile Perch
History of the Fishery
Pile perch sustain a limited commercial shery in Del Mar,
California, and Papalote Bay, Baja California, but do not
contribute substantially to annual commercial landings in
the state.
They are of interest as a sport sh throughout the state,
with an average of 16,000 perch caught between 1993
and 1999. Many are caught from piers, jetties, beaches,
or skiffs. Pile perch may be caught year-round on any
number of popular baits, including clams, sand shrimps,
and worms.
Status of Biological Knowledge
Pile perch can be identied by the silvery sides with a
dark vertical bar about midbody, and a unique dorsal
n with the rst few soft dorsal rays longer than any
of the others, giving the n a peaked appearance. They
are equipped with strong, well-developed teeth, enabling
them to feed on hard shelled mollusks, crabs, and other
California’s Marine Living Resources:
A Status Report
237
Surfperches
spawning season. The sport catch since 1993 has ranged from
a low of 10,000 sh in 1998, to a high of 56,000 in 1994.
Status of Biological Knowledge
Pile Perch, Rhacochilus vacca
Credit: DFG
crustaceans. Their specialized dentation differs enough
from rubberlip surfperch to convince some ichthyologists
to place them in their own genus (Damalichthys).
Pile perch are found between southeastern Alaska and
northern Baja California, including Guadalupe Island. They
usually live along rocky shores, from the surface down to
150 feet, and grow to around 17.5 inches in length.
Fecundity increases with age and size of the females.
Average fecundity at rst reproduction is 11.7 young, and
sometimes exceeds 60 in older females. Adult longevity of
pile surfperch is seven to 10 years.
Status of the Population
Because accurate landings data for pile perch are lacking,
little can be concluded about the current population
status in California.
Redtail Surfperch
Redtail surfperch are distinguished by the nine or ten vertical, orange-to-brassy bars alternating at the lateral line
and the light red pelvic, anal, and caudal ns. The body
is moderately deep and laterally compressed, with a light
green back and silver sides and belly. During the 1990s,
adult female redtail averaged 10.5 inches and weighed 1.1
pounds, while the males averaged 9.8 inches and weighed
0.8 pounds. The largest recorded California redtail was a
female that was 16.5 inches long and weighed 3.7 pounds.
The largest recorded individual was 16.5 inches long and
weighed 3.7 pounds. Females produce eight to 45 young
about one year after fertilization, sometime between May
and August.
Redtail surfperch are found from Vancouver Island,
Canada, to Monterey Bay, California, but the shery is
centered north of the San Francisco Bay area.
Status of the Population
There are no estimates of the size of the redtail surfperch
stocks in California coastal waters. The commercial catch
averaged 50,000 pounds during the 1970s, 48,000 pounds
during the 1980s and 38,000 pounds during the 1990s,
which suggests a decreasing population. Another indicator
of problems with the population is the decrease in weight
from an average per sh weight of 1.8 pounds during
the late 1950s and early 1960s, to 0.9 pounds during
the 1990s.
History of the Fishery
Redtail surfperch sustain a sport shery from central California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. They support
a commercial shery only in northern California, especially in the inshore waters of the Eureka/Crescent City
area where over 99 percent of the catch is taken. These
sh are taken primarily from sandy beaches or the mouths
of rivers and streams entering the sea, but also can be
caught from jetties and piers inside harbors and bays.
Humboldt and Del Norte counties in northern California
are the primary locations of the winter redtail commercial
shery. Fishing is mostly from open beaches using hookand-line gear. The best catches are in March and April
when the sh are concentrated for spawning. Commercial
shing is closed from May 1 to July 15. The annual commercial harvest averaged 37,000 pounds over the last 10
years, with a high catch in 1990 in excess of 62,000 pounds
and a low catch of around 27,000 pounds in 1998.
Redtail Surfperch, Amphistichus rhodoterus
Credit: DFG
Sport shing for redtails occurs in the same areas where
they are commercially taken. They are taken year-round
by hook-and-line, but are usually targeted during the
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California’s Marine Living Resources:
A Status Report
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
December 2001
History of the Fishery
The rubberlip surfperch is one of the many important
surfperch sport sh along the California coast. It is caught
along jetties and piers, and also taken by skiff anglers
nearshore or in kelp beds. The sport catch over the last
seven years ranged from 13,000 sh in 1993 to 44,000 sh
in 1997 with an average of 19,000. The commercial shery
is very small with landings of less than 1,000 pounds
annually from southern California.
comprise a substantial portion of the state’s sport shery.
The mean take of striped seaperch for the last seven years
was 65,000 sh, almost wholly from central and northern
California. These perch are easily taken from piers, jetties, beaches, and skiffs, and are favorites of anglers due
to their beautiful coloration.
Surfperches
Rubberlip Surfperch
Status of Biological Knowledge
The large, thick lips of the rubberlip distinguish it from
other surfperches. Its coloration varies from olive-to
brassy-brown on the sides, with one or two dusky bars
on adult sh. The pectoral ns are yellow to orange, and
the pelvic ns are usually black. The maximum length of
rubberlip seaperch is 18.5 inches, making the rubberlip
the largest of the surfperches.
Rubberlip surfperch are found from Russian Gulch State
Beach (Mendocino County), California, to central Baja California, including Guadalupe Island. These sh range from
inshore waters to depths of 150 feet.
Although no data have been collected on age at sexual
maturity, gravid rubberlip surfperch have been caught
from April to June. Time of birth is estimated to
be midsummer.
Striped Seaperch, Embiotoca lateralis
Credit: DFG
Status of Biological Knowledge
Striped seaperch can be easily identied by the red, blue,
and yellow lines that run laterally along the length of the
body. Maximum length is 15 inches. These sh are sexually
mature in their third year of life and produce about 18
young per female. At age seven, the average number
of young produced per female is 32. The maximum life
expectancy for this sh is approximately 10 years.
Striped seaperch are found from southeastern Alaska to
northern Baja California.
Status of Population
Population estimates of striped seaperch have not been
made, but recent landing gures indicate that this species
should be able to sustain a healthy sport catch.
Walleye Surfperch
Rubberlip Surfperch, Rhacochilus toxotes
Credit: DFG
Status of the Population
No recent estimates have been made of the rubberlip
perch population its size is unknown at this time.
Striped Seaperch
History of the Fishery
Striped seaperch is one of the eight to 10 species that
make up the small commercial “perch” shery. However,
it is a minor component when compared to such species
as the barred surfperch. Conversely, striped seaperch do
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
December 2001
History of the Fishery
Sport anglers enjoy shing for walleyes. In 1993, anglers
caught 164,000 individuals, well over 90 percent being
caught from shore, jetties, and piers. Walleyes can be
taken on sand crabs and other invertebrates, as well as on
small spinners and jigs. They are excellent to eat.
Status of Biological Knowledge
Walleye surfperch are silver to bluish above, with very
faint pink bars that fade quickly after death. Most notable
are the large eyes and black tipped pelvic ns. Similar
species are the spotn surfperch and the silver surfperch.
However, the spotn has black spots on its dorsal and anal
ns, while the silver lacks any black coloration.
California’s Marine Living Resources:
A Status Report
239
Surfperches
Commercial Landings
1916-1999, Surfperches
Data Source: DFG Catch
Bulletins and commercial
landing receipts.
Surfperch
thousands of pounds landed
400
300
200
100
0
1916 1920
1930
1940
Walleye surfperch are found in large schools along sandy
beaches, jetties, kelp beds, and other habitats with rich
invertebrate life. They range from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to central Baja California, including Guadalupe Island. They reach a length of 12 inches and are found
to depth of 60 feet.
Walleye surfperch mate from November to December and,
after a ve-month gestation period, give birth in midApril. Males engage in an aggressive “swooping” courtship
before mating. Females, depending on size, will have ve
to 12 young that are about 1.5 inches at birth. The young
are miniature replicas of the parent and mature the fall or
winter following their birth.
Status of the Population
The recent sport take has averaged 112,000 sh per year.
However, the total stock size is unknown at this time.
Surfperch: Discussion
S
urfperches are important both commercially and as
sport sh. Most of the California coastal species are
taken in the sport catch and the majority of the catch
is taken when spawning aggregations are present. Female
surfperches are intentionally targeted by sport anglers
because they are larger than males. Sport anglers also
grade their catch, which probably results in an even
greater take of mature females with a resulting decline
in the shery. The redtail and barred surfperches are
the most notable in the commercial catch and may be
important to local economies. Total commercial surfperch
landings have uctuated over the years, but over the
long-term have declined by 25 percent since the 1950s.
Recent research has indicated that some of the decline is
associated with the increases in water temperature.
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California’s Marine Living Resources:
A Status Report
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
1999
Surfperch habitats have been, and will continue to be,
areas of conict. As humans develop the shoreline,
areas inhabited by surfperches may become polluted or
destroyed. Although surfperches may adapt to structures
such as jetties and piers, it should not be assumed that
they can continue to adapt to all the changes that are
forced upon them.
Action is needed if surfperch populations are to
be restored.
Ronald A. Fritzsche
Humboldt State University
Patrick Collier
California Department of Fish and Game
References
Fritzsche, R.A. and T.J. Hassler. 1989. Species proles: life
histories and environmental requirements of coastal shes
and invertebrates (Pacic Southwest) - pile perch, striped
seaperch, and rubberlip seaperch. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv.
Biol. Rep. 82(11.103) U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR
EL-82-4. 15pp.
Holbrook, Sally J., Russel J. Schmitt, and John S. Stephens, Jr. 1997. Changes in an assemblage of temperate
reef shes associated with a climate shift. Ecological
Applications. 7 (4), pp 1299-1310.
Karpov, K.A., D. P. Albin and W. H. Van Buskirk. 1995.
The marine recreational shery in northern and central
California. Calif. Fish and Game Bull.176:192 pp.
Tarp, F.H. 1952. A revision of the family Embiotocidae (the
surfperches). Calif. Fish and Game Fish Bull. 88:1-99.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
December 2001